Our Industry

AI Server Loads Impact on Data Centers

By Jimmy Sneed

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries from healthcare to finance, but its growth comes with a hidden cost: the enormous demand on data center infrastructure. Unlike traditional IT workloads, AI tasks require specialized hardware and massive parallel processing, driving power and cooling needs far beyond historic norms. This shift is forcing data center operators and the utilities that support them to rethink how they deliver power reliably and sustainably.

WHAT IS DRIVING THIS SHIFT?

AI servers dramatically increase energy intensity. They create dense, high-wattage racks and spiky load patterns that challenge traditional power and cooling systems. A single AI training session can run GPUs at full capacity for days or weeks, pulling several kilowatts per server. The result is racks consuming 100 kW or more, far beyond what legacy designs anticipated.

AI workloads also often exhibit bursty behavior, producing sharp spikes in demand followed by idle periods. These unpredictable load profiles complicate capacity planning, forcing operators to design for peak usage rather than averages. As power consumption rises, cooling requirements climb as well, making electrical and thermal management deeply interconnected challenges.

From grid stress to local distribution upgrades, energy providers face mounting pressure to keep up.

INNOVATION IS CLOSING THE GAP

Operators are finding creative ways to manage AI’s growing demands. From battery storage to smarter workload scheduling and greener power solutions, new technologies and strategies are reshaping how facilities maintain reliability and efficiency,

The use of UPS systems seems to be one solution that helps smooth spiky loads and provide fast-response power without immediately engaging generators. To learn more about how we see using UPS system to support resilient design, view our infographic here.

THE PATH FORWARD

AI will continue to push the limits of data center design and infrastructure, but it is also driving innovation. From grid modernization to AI-driven power optimization, the future holds both challenges and opportunities.

To stay ahead, operators need forward-thinking design strategies that prioritize reliability, sustainability, and performance. Partnering with our team in the data center design process ensures systems are resilient and ready for AI-driven demand. Our expertise in power quality, load management, and integration of solutions such as UPS systems to help mitigate risks from spiking AI loads, maintain compliance with industry standards, and optimize overall system performance.